On Media

Conflicts of Interest: The Syria pundits

By HADAS GOLD

10/11/2013 09:33 AM EDT

Twenty two commentators on Syria who were featured in the news media as independent former officials or think-tank members actually have strong ties to defense contractors and foreign policy-focused firms with a vested interest in the Syria debate, the watch dog group Public Accountability Initiative found in a recent study.

"Media outlets have done very little to address the gaps in disclosure and abuses of the public trust," the study said. "The media continues to present former military and government officials as venerated experts without informing the public of their industry ties – the personal financial interests that may be shaping their opinions of what is in the national interest."

PAI specifically singled out Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser to President George W. Bush. Hadley appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and Bloomberg TV, and authored a Washington Post op-ed where he argued for military intervention.

"In each case, Hadley’s audience was not informed that he serves as a director of Raytheon, the weapons manufacturer that makes the Tomahawk cruise missiles that were widely cited as a weapon of choice in a potential strike against Syria," PAI found. "Hadley earns $128,500 in annual cash compensation from the company and chairs its public affairs committee."

PAI found that in 111 appearances from Aug. 20 to Sep. 18 only 13 attempts were made at some kind of disclosure. Many of the attempts at disclosure mentioned the firms the commentators work at, but not what the firms do or their possible connections to military intervention in Syria.